Swashin’ down the quarter-deck, scuppers runnin’ free,
All th’ gang in workin’ white, happy as c’n be;
Smell o’ coffee comin’ through from th’ galley, near,
Getting’ keener fer th’ mess, ev’ry sound we hear;
Mornin’ watch a-swappin’ yarns that they get ashore,
Ev’ry guy with somethin’ new ’bout th’ night before.
Smokes a-workin’ overtime, makins’ hard t’ find,
Jeans rolled up aroun’ our knees, blouses left b’hind;
Rus’lin’ out th’ cleanin’ gear, draggin’ aft th’ hose,
Sloshin’ ’round t’ feel th’ sand oozin’ ‘tween our toes;
Legs a-tinglin’ from th’ spray, dancin’ ’round with glee,
Holystonin’ with th’ gang — that’s th’ watch fer me.
Sun a-peepin’ from th’ sea out across th’ bay,
Fishermen a-makin’ sail, getting’ under way;
Gulls a-whinin’ overhead, lookin’ fer their chow,
Bumboatmen a-comin’ out, driftin”round th’ bow;
Ship a-swingin’ to th’ tide, chains a-drawin’ tight,
Deck a-wash, th’ sand an’ water shinin’ in th’ light.
Gang a-singin’, fore an’ aft, songs o’ ev’ry kind,
Holystone a-slidin’ — slidin’ with a merry grind;
Wadin’ ’round in sand an’ slush, slippin’ on th’ deck,
Tiltin’ up th’ hose a bit to’ards a rockie’s neck;
Ev’rybody’s soppin’ wet, hungry as c’n be,
Holystonin’ with th’ gang — that’s th’ life fer me!
(Burt Franklin Jenness)
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Based on Topics: Light Poems, Happiness PoemsBased on Keywords: chow, driftin, runnin, a-comin, yarns, workin, lin, shinin, aroun, dancin, a-singin